Friday, April 3, 2015

Trust and Faith in God


by: Ruby Ann J. Puzon

One fine day, my personal friends introduced me into a trust game where they had to cover my eyes with a piece of clothing making sure that I can see nothing. It is like a dictator game where one will give instruction and then I follow. I took the challenge. The only thing for me to do is to listen to what the voice will say. Who guided me? I don’t know. What I know is that I gave my full trusts that I will not be harm and that they will take care of me during the course of the game. I was scared and fearful of what will happen but I know I am blessed to have good friends so I am safe. After the game, I later found out… Ha! The surprise of my life.
 
This story reminds me of how I trust my Lord. Humbly I say that I belong to the lucky few who have outdone all the challenges in life and at the end, received a beautiful reward. My trust and faith in the Lord had been tested for number of times. Just like this game, I was blindfolded with the situation I thought I cannot outshine. God is testing my trust and He promised to be with me always. It came to the point where all my trials are more hurtful, cruel and very upsetting. I know if I put my trust and faith to my Lord, I am very optimistic that when the blindfold will be removed, I will get the greatest surprise of my life.

Proverbs 3:5-6 said:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.[a]



Through Christ our Lord. Amen.



Holy Week Reflection



by: Ruby Ann J. Puzon




As I reflect back on my life‘s journey for the span of 12,410 days and counting I’ve had…

…countless blessing
…number of friends came and go
…answered prayers
…wish came true
…loving parents and sibling
…wonderful family
…nice job
…expectations met
…became a blessing to others
 And a fulfilled life…

What more am I asking for?

This question came to me while sitting in the four corners of my office and busy meeting deadlines. Omg! I even forget about thanking HIM this morning that I still woke up to fulfill my purpose.  Sometimes I feel I do not deserve all the things listed above but still I had it.  It was given to me as a prize and surprise. Like a normal human being, I had a “not-so-good-in-short-bad-days” more often and still made to manage it and lasted the day. I never realized that He did it on purpose. That’s Him. He did it for me to realize that there is always HIM beside me, to comfort me and to make sure that things can be better if I believe. So stupid though, I came to believe that I did it myself but in reality He did it for me, not me for me. It’s normal to feel good about yourself because you pass the day’s challenge but how could I forget the fact that I am just an instrument.  

Although I didn’t have a royal life nor came from a wealthy family but I have other things that some people do not have, Faith! God said “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.Isaiah 41:10.

I am not perfect, I also had an inconvenient experiences, problems difficult to solve, tiresome day, difficult people to handle, unreasonable situation to pass through, very impossible situations, unavoidable devil people to deal with, high expectations to meet, pass through dark tunnels of life, had been down and out and experienced a lot of frustrations and misfortunes…all these things I’ve conquered because of Him. God said “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged”.1 Chronicles 22:13. I can’t believe I pass through it. Sometimes I questioned God, but who am I to complain? I wasn’t made to carry a cross-like wood three times taller than me, mocked by people, yelled by people saying hurtful things, walked barefooted  for number of steps…without water, under the heat of the sun, unclothed and with a wire of thorns over the head. I have no right to question God.

When there are problems God said…”Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it." Ezra 10:4. Sometimes there are problems that I think was so big but I never realized that it is the smallest problem I even encountered compared to HIM who died for me.  That was so selfish of me! I never even realized that problems are blessings and it was intended for me to realize that I was loved by God. I wasn’t asked to do things that He did for people, just by loving him and serving him that’s the thing that He asked. How could I never do it?

In this year’s holy week celebration, let us all reflect, pray and thank God for what HE did for us. Let us not forget to ask pardon and forgiveness for the sins that we committed, for the people who we hurt and continue to have hurt, for thinking bad about other person, for being so prejudicial, for being selfish and for not fulfilling God’s purpose. I ask you to pray with me, for world peace, for healing a broken relationship may it be country to country, family to family, friends to friends, and people to loved ones. Let us all spread the good news saying… "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."Psalm 23

This holy week celebration, I will start by asking sorry and pardon for my shortcomings, for the people who I have hurt (intentionally and unintentionally)…. I also forgive you for hurting my feelings….as I say Glory be to the father unto the Son unto the Holy Spirit. Amen.


 "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe."
Proverbs 18:10

Have a blessed Holy Week...

Until then….